The count d'Eu made a fruitless attempt with his men on the side near the sea, for the English had so strongly fortified every point where he could land that it was labour in vain; and after losing some of their vessels, which had grounded, they retreated to Montivilliers. The infantry likewise retreated thither, finding that they could not gain any advantage. The French remained eight days at Montivilliers, in great want of provisions for themselves and their horses, waiting to see if they could any way afford assistance to the besieged,--and during this time many skirmishes took place. The count d'Eu sent proposals to the earl of Somerset, to decide the raising of the siege on a personal combat with him, or of one hundred men against a hundred Englishmen; but neither was accepted, because the earl knew full well that the garrison and inhabitants were so much distressed by famine that they must, within a few days, surrender at discretion. The earl and the other captains considered also the very great expence their king had been at for this siege, and, when so near gaining their object, would not put the risk of losing it to the chance of a battle, at the request of their adversaries. The French then, from their great want of victual, and from the superior numbers of the English, seeing the impossibility of relieving the town, concluded unanimously to return whence they had come as speedily as they could. They were forced to this from want of food for themselves and their horses, which was not to be had for any consideration; but, before their departure, they requested a passport from the enemy for the lord de Rambures, which was granted. The lord de Rambures then went to the english camp to treat for the surrender of Harfleur,--and the French and Picards, in the mean time, retreated to Abbeville. On their march, they were met by certain messengers from the duke of Burgundy, to forbid them entering his territories, by reason of the great damages they had done when passing through them before, threatening that if they should set foot in them he would drive them back by force. They promised not to touch the duke's lands,--but a few broke their word, and entered Ponthieu, drawing toward Amiens, and committed great damages; but the counts d'Estampes and de St Pol, having collected a large force of men at arms, attacked and repulsed them.